Georgia Crop Weather Week Ending Date January 23, 2005 COLD SNAP TAKES A BITE Cold weather returned to most of the state according to the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. Temperature highs got up to the low 70's in some parts of the state while the lows almost dropped to the single digits. Soil moisture levels were rated 13 percent short, 83 percent adequate, and 4 percent surplus. This frigid cold snap has put everything back into dormancy. Pasture, vegetable, and wheat conditions were all rated in mostly good or fair condition. Pasture conditions were declining though. Wheat seems to be tillered much better than last year's crop. The cold may have suppressed disease and insects that were triggered from the earlier warm spell. The cold snap did some damage on ornamental plants, fruit trees, and wine grapes, along with other tender plants. Rain was needed in the middle part of the state. County Extension Agents reported an average of 5.9 days suitable for fieldwork. In south central Georgia, these days suitable for work did not take into account that some of the low lying areas were unworkable because they were wet. Other activities included discing cotton stalks, lime application, soil testing, and other preparations for spring planting. Routine care of livestock and poultry took place as well. Livestock producers increased hay feeding due to bad pasture conditions and weather in central Georgia. Crop Progress Table January 23, 2005 Data for the table will resume in April 2005. Crop Condition Table January 23, 2005 Crop Very Poor Vegetables 0 Wheat 0 Pasture 3 Poor Fair Good --Percentage-- 4 35 56 1 32 64 11 39 45 Excellent 5 3 2 Pasture Condition Table - District* Level January 23, 2005 Very Poor Poor Fair Good Excellent --Percentage-- Dist 1(NW) 4 12 53 31 0 Dist 2(NC) 0 2 46 49 3 Dist 3(NE) 0 13 28 53 6 Dist 4(WC) 0 0 40 54 6 Dist 5(C) 6 6 30 57 1 Dist 6(EC) 0 18 35 47 0 Dist 7(SW) 2 13 39 45 1 Dist 8(SC) 6 17 47 26 4 Dist 9(SE) 0 9 50 41 0 *A list of the counties in each of the nine Georgia Agricultural Statistics Districts is available at http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga/ctyests/districts.pdf. Soil Moisture Table Jan 23, 2005 Prev Year --Percentages-- 5 Year Avg Very Short 0 NA NA Short 13 NA NA Adequate 83 NA NA Surplus 4 NA NA Soil Moisture Table - District Level January 23, 2005 Very Short Short Adequate --Percentages-- Dist 1(NW) 0 8 87 Dist 2(NC) 0 7 84 Dist 3(NE) 0 1 94 Dist 4(WC) 0 11 89 Dist 5(C) 0 9 85 Dist 6(EC) 0 19 81 Dist 7(SW) 1 18 78 Dist 8(SC) 0 16 79 Dist 9(SE) 0 21 78 Surplus 5 9 5 0 6 0 3 5 1 Weather Information Table GEORGIA WEATHER SUMMARY FOR THE WEEK ENDING MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY JANUARY 23, 2005 1/ 2005 Air Temperature Precipitation Totals Extreme Weekly Rain 30 60 Soil Location Max Min AvG Weekly Day Day Day Season Temp ALMA 71 23 43 0.04 1 0.82 0.82 0.82 48 ALPHARETTA 65 16 33 0.02 1 1.60 1.60 1.60 39 ARLINGTON 71 23 43 0.00 0 1.92 1.92 1.92 48 ATTAPULGUS 73 26 45 0.00 0 1.19 1.19 1.19 51 BLAIRSVILLE 63 10 30 0.00 0 2.27 2.27 2.27 41 BOWEN 70 23 42 0.01 1 0.66 0.66 0.66 51 BRUNSWICK 72 28 47 0.02 1 0.88 0.88 0.88 52 BYRON 71 21 39 0.00 0 1.01 1.01 1.01 47 CAIRO 73 26 45 0.00 0 0.84 0.84 0.84 59 CALHOUN 65 17 33 0.01 1 1.23 1.23 1.23 38 CAMILLA 72 24 44 0.00 0 0.91 0.91 0.91 50 CLARKS HILL 64 17 37 0.01 1 1.32 1.32 1.32 42 CORDELE 70 23 41 0.00 0 1.60 1.60 1.60 50 COVINGTON 69 19 37 0.01 1 1.25 1.25 1.25 43 DAHLONEGA 65 14 33 0.04 1 1.54 1.54 1.54 41 DALLAS 68 17 35 0.00 0 1.59 1.59 1.59 42 DAWSON 69 22 42 0.00 0 1.40 1.40 1.40 50 DEARING 67 20 38 0.00 0 1.33 1.33 1.33 50 DIXIE 72 26 45 0.01 1 1.16 1.16 1.16 50 DUBLIN 70 20 40 0.00 0 0.98 0.98 0.98 47 DULUTH 68 18 34 0.01 1 1.21 1.21 1.21 42 DUNWOODY 65 17 34 0.00 0 1.48 1.48 1.48 41 EATONTON 70 15 36 0.02 1 1.68 1.68 1.68 41 ELLIJAY 62 11 30 0.03 1 1.56 1.56 1.56 40 GAINESVILLE 66 19 35 0.04 1 1.27 1.27 1.27 44 GEORGETOWN 70 22 42 0.00 0 2.64 2.64 2.64 49 GRIFFIN 68 19 37 0.00 0 1.66 1.66 1.66 46 HOMERVILLE 73 24 44 0.00 0 0.95 0.95 0.95 51 JACKSONVILLE 69 19 39 0.00 0 1.55 1.55 1.55 47 JONESBORO 69 20 36 0.00 0 1.84 1.84 1.84 42 LAFAYETTE 63 14 34 0.00 0 1.38 1.38 1.38 41 MCRAE 71 18 40 0.00 0 0.69 0.69 0.69 48 MIDVILLE 69 18 39 0.03 1 1.29 1.29 1.29 46 NEWTON 73 22 43 0.00 0 1.75 1.75 1.75 51 PINE MOUNTAIN 71 19 37 0.00 0 1.70 1.70 1.70 43 PLAINS 69 21 41 0.00 0 1.91 1.91 1.91 44 ROME 67 17 34 0.00 0 1.11 1.11 1.11 42 SASSER 69 23 42 0.00 0 1.83 1.83 1.83 47 SAVANNAH 70 20 41 0.05 1 0.96 0.96 0.96 50 SHELLMAN 70 22 42 0.00 0 1.79 1.79 1.79 48 SKIDAWAY 65 26 42 0.11 1 0.73 0.73 0.73 47 STATESBORO 69 19 40 0.00 0 0.87 0.87 0.87 48 TIFTON 68 23 43 0.00 0 1.07 1.07 1.07 51 TIGER 59 12 31 0.04 1 1.43 1.43 1.43 38 VALDOSTA 72 27 47 0.05 1 1.19 1.19 1.19 53 WATKINSVILLE 69 18 36 0.02 1 2.26 2.26 2.26 41 WILLIAMSON 69 18 37 0.00 0 1.95 1.95 1.95 42 1/ Weather data supplied by Georgia Automated Environmental Monitoring Network (AEMN) and the office of the State Climatologist, University of Georgia. For detailed Georgia weather data visit the AEMN homepage, www.georgiaweather.net. NA - not available. District Highlights These comments are written by the Georgia County Extension Agents, and have been complied and edited by the Georgia Agricultural Statistics Service. DISTRICT COMMENTS January 23, 2005 DISTRICT 1 - NORTHWEST No comments available. DISTRICT 2 - NORTH CENTRAL Cold snap after warm weather did some damage to tender plants. Routine care of livestock and poultry. DISTRICT 3 - NORTHEAST Extreme cold snap put everything into dormancy again. Potential for cold damage on ornamental plants, fruit trees, and wine grapes. DISTRICT 4 - WEST CENTRAL No comments available. DISTRICT 5 - CENTRAL Cold and windy! Hay feeding to livestock continued to increase due to the weather and declining pasture conditions. The cooler temperatures may mean suppression of disease and insect problems. DISTRICT 6 - EAST CENTRAL Need rain, wheat seemed to be tillered better than last year. Not much going on. Very cold. Cold temperatures have finally arrived. Still need moisture. DISTRICT 7 - SOUTHWEST Discing cotton stalks. Lime application and soil testing. DISTRICT 8 - SOUTH CENTRAL Days suitable for fieldwork does not take into account that many fields are not workable due to low lying areas being too wet. DISTRICT 9 - SOUTHEAST No comments available. Contact Information David S. Abbe, Director Georgia Agricultural Statistics Phone: 706-546-2236 E-mail: nass-ga@nass.usda.gov Website: http://www.nass.usda.gov/ga